Comprehensive Approach to Student Success
Today's students have to deal with more stress and more demands on their time and mental health than ever before. Our curricula must address the evolving needs of all kids, based on educator input and feedback.
- Whole-child measurements of student performance and well-being for adult success
- Contextualized assessments using test scores, GPA, and in-class performance
- Early interventions at any stage of learning
- Improved Kindergarten Individual Readiness
- Tutoring programs for our most vulnerable students
- Regular curriculum reviews
- Social-emotional learning (SEL)
- Culture of inclusion
Realistic Solutions for Morale and Turnover
With two education experts, we are uniquely poised to empathize with the struggles our teachers experience. We are one of the lowest-paying districts in the area. We have a lack of consistent leadership due to administration turnover. Our teachers often feel overwhelmed without the resources they need.
Our approach:
- Review and adjust salaries to be competitive
- Foster a local pipeline of TAs and teachers from nearby universities and even our own high schools
- Look for opportunities to promote from within, which will maintain institutional knowledge and momentum
- Evaluate alternative instructional models that better support teachers, counselors, and students
- Foster a positive and collaborative culture between schools and the community
Responsible, Strategic Budgeting
With two financial industry veterans, our slate is uniquely qualified to evaluate priorities and balance short-term and long-term returns to create an efficient, financially stable, and high-performing school district.
- Prioritize research-backed solutions to increase achievement
- Focus on short-term achievement gains with long-term financial stability
- Reduce waste by streamlining inefficient/ineffective systems/processes
- Take advantage of levies and evidence-based funding (EBF)
- Help stakeholders understand how their taxes fund the district
Our district is currently underfunded at 64% (per Illinois Evidence-Based Funding metrics). Many surrounding districts are well above 100%. To avoid massive cuts, we need to fund.
Commitment to Parents' Involvement
Parents play a critical role in the education and well-being of their children. Our focus is to encourage a culture of partnership between parents, educators, and administrators by:
- Conducting parent-focused forums
- Reminding parents where they can currently find student curriculum
- Encouraging board of education meeting attendance/viewing
- Linking to existing curriculum/materials opt-out process
- Revisiting district-to-parent communication processes
We trust parents to know what's best for their own children and only their own children. Every parent in this district should have the right to advocate for their own child.